Rugby league crisis not hitting WA interest

[El Diablo]

http://www.watoday.com.au/sport/rugby-league-crisis-not-hitting-wa-interest-20090610-c370.html

Rugby league crisis not hitting WA interest

* Tim Clarke
* June 10, 2009 - 12:08PM

Rugby league fans are set to send a massive message about the desire to have the NRL back in WA, with an anticipated crowd of 15,000 expected for Saturday night's clash between the Melbourne Storm and South Sydney at Member's Equity Stadium.

Numerous scandals have hammered the code in recent weeks, with Cronulla embroiled in group sex allegations, a positive drugs test to player Reni Maitua and chief executive Tony Zappia stood down on over his treatment of a female employee.

But despite the troubles in the east, fans in the west are preparing to vote with their feet this weekend, with 10,000 tickets already sold for the Storm vs Rabbitohs clash and another 5,000 expected to show on the night.

This weekend's staging of a full-blown NRL fixture is seen as a massive step in the plans to re-establish a WA team in the elite national competition by 2012 - and WA Reds spokesman Richard Campbell said a large crowd was vital.

"The message is going to go out that WA and Perth will support rugby league here - and it is going to be heard loud and clear by the people who matter," said Campbell.

Saturday's clash will be the next step after a near 10,000 crowd watched Wayne Bennett's St George side in pre-season - a trip that prompted the legendary coach to saying the groundwork was all but done for the NRL to return to WA.

The Rabbitohs arrive in Perth tomorrow, with former Storm talisman Michael Crocker lining up against his former side - and the club scotching rumours Australia's swine flu infection could see the match postponed.

"I have spoken to the NRL, Brian Waldron at the Melbourne Storm and Members Equity Stadium, and this Saturday’s game will definitely be going ahead,” South Sydney CEO Shane Richardson said.

"There have been rumours doing the rounds today that the game will be called off but I can guarantee this is not the case.

"Those people spreading these rumours obviously don’t have the best interests of South Sydney or the game of Rugby League at heart."

Melbourne have named an unchanged side after smashing Brisbane 48-4 last weekend to leave it one point off top spot - although Storm coach Craig Bellamy admitted this weekend's would be a journey into the unknown for his side.

"It is obviously something very different, a lot of the guys have not been to Perth before a - a fair few have not been there," Bellamy said.

"Certainly I don’t think any of them have played there, looking forward to the experience, and we need to be consistent with our form."

 

[Perth Red]

Great news, I had to get a Western rabbitohs membership just to get a decent seat!

Fingers crossed for good weather so we get a large walk up crowd.

Souths are considering scheduling two games a year for the next 3 years if this is a success so hopefully a 15,000 crowd will convince them of the merits of playing in Perth until we get the Reds back in.

 

[Noa]

Guess the WA public cant wait to see the likes of Cam Smith, Billy Slater, Greg Inglis, Joe Tomane, Sika Manu, Cooper Cronk, Mick Crocker (former Storm player).

 

[Perth Red]

It's surprising how many Storm shirts and caps you see around Perth (probably as there is a bit of a link given that is where alot of players and staff from the Reds ended up). Having said that there are heaps of Sth's fans in Perth so we will be outnumbered Noa!

 

[1 Eyed TEZZA]

God I hope the Reds get back in.

I wonder who will have the majority of support. Melbourne or Souths.

 

[tiger_nick]

the storm will probably score as many 6 pointers as an afl team!

 

[rabbitohs]

Anything under 18k (close to sellout) should be considered a fail just as anything under 10k for Adelaide was especially considering the teams involved.
Souths v Melbourne in Adelaide would have sold out Hindmarsh no probs (instead of the two worst teams in the comp). League mad and ready for their own team WA should have no probs.

The Storm seem to have a decent following in all the AFL states. Maybe they are the ones who should be visiting regularly.

 

[joondalup_giant]

Souths will be the crowd favourites on the day. the Rabbitohs have quite a large and well established fan group over here "Western Rabbitohs".

Great news 10,000 already sold and still 4 days til kick off! Hopefully we get closerer to 18k there!

 

[Perth Red]

With no cover on MES a lot will come down to rain or dry I feel. Although the promotion for the game has been better than in the past it still hasn't exactly been massive and if you think we will get 18,000 given how ignored Perth has been by RL for a decade you are dreaming! 15,000 would be a great crowd and a solid base to build upon.

 

[PARRA_FAN]

Great news for RL in WA if they can get a crowd of over 15,000. It'll be a step towards getting a team back in Perth.

The one good thing about playing games in Perth is that it wouldnt effect the TV schedule much. Just imagine a Friday night game over there. You'd have 2 games on Fri night LIVE. Same with Super Saturday. And a Sunday alvo game at 4pm our time, which would suit Ch 9.

 

[LeagueXIII]

As far as TV goes, Perth is a must for a team.

 

[$$Poor Boy Blues$$]

To Perth:
ARE YOU ENTERTAINED????


to nrl: ok, guys, they are. Now shut up about the whole non-perth new team next time, and put one there.

 

[Flapper]

I went to the MES trial match between Canterbury and Souths in 2005 and watched $BW single handedly tear the Bunnies 17 new arseholes, and it was an excellent crowd and fantastic atmosphere. A great place to watch League as is, but it needs an upgrade to house a team full time, come on Barnett!

Kudos as well to the WA Reds, they've got a great set up.

 

[Hanscholo]

Anything under 18k (close to sellout) should be considered a fail just as anything under 10k for Adelaide was especially considering the teams involved.
Souths v Melbourne in Adelaide would have sold out Hindmarsh no probs (instead of the two worst teams in the comp). League mad and ready for their own team WA should have no probs.

The Storm seem to have a decent following in all the AFL states. Maybe they are the ones who should be visiting regularly.

I dont see why it would be 'fail' as you put it. People go to see their side play most often. Suggesting that the storm have a following in AFL states is as funny as hell. Trust me, the SA and WA folk have NO love for Victorian teams of any sort.

 

[MsStorm]

Absolutely wrapped to see that 10,000 tickets have been sold so far.
Hopefully can reach the 15,000 mark and prove to the nrl that we should have a team in Perth.

 

[Parra]

The NRL will put a team wherever it is told to put one.

They have no say in it, nor do you.

 

[Perth Red]

Thing is we should see this as an opportunity to build, not just as a one off justification for a yes or no. The decision doesn't need to be made till late 2011 for a 2013 start so lets recognise that if 12-15,000 turn up that there is clearly a good foundation to start building from and have regular games scheduled over the next two seasons to continue to see what the interest is and if the Reds are a viable option. Do the same in each potential city then come 2011 the NRL can make an informed decision.

People who think we should judge one way or another by the first real game to played here in 4 years are kidding themselves. If we get 12,000 great its a strong start, if we get 15,000 even better we are showing that we are as strong as the Force even without a team or any RL profile, if we get a sell out well then (apart from being totally amazed) it would show that there is huge potential without much further work needed.

 

[Nuke]

Agreed.

In the years before the Western Reds were announced as coming into the (then NSWRL / ARL), there were games here most (if not all) years. First game I can recall was Balmain-Parramatta Panasonic Cup in 1989. In the years after that, there was Canberra-Canterbury, Manly-Canterbury (I think), and a few more before Norths played Easts in 1994. The Western Reds kicked off in 1995.

 

[1 Eyed TEZZA]

Thing is we should see this as an opportunity to build, not just as a one off justification for a yes or no. The decision doesn't need to be made till late 2011 for a 2013 start so lets recognise that if 12-15,000 turn up that there is clearly a good foundation to start building from and have regular games scheduled over the next two seasons to continue to see what the interest is and if the Reds are a viable option. Do the same in each potential city then come 2011 the NRL can make an informed decision.

People who think we should judge one way or another by the first real game to played here in 4 years are kidding themselves. If we get 12,000 great its a strong start, if we get 15,000 even better we are showing that we are as strong as the Force even without a team or any RL profile, if we get a sell out well then (apart from being totally amazed) it would show that there is huge potential without much further work needed.

The judging on the first game thing couldnt be more correct. If there isnt a good crowd there, it dosent mean there is no support. If it dose get a good crowd, dosent mean there is great support.

Case sample, Paris Saint Germain. A Rugby League club set up a few years ago for the Super League. First few weeks it pulled great crowds, about 18 000 i think for the first few games. But eventually crowds died off and Paris Saint Germain are now defunct.

 

[cumberlandsashes81]

The judging on the first game thing couldnt be more correct. If there isnt a good crowd there, it dosent mean there is no support. If it dose get a good crowd, dosent mean there is great support.

Case sample, Paris Saint Germain. A Rugby League club set up a few years ago for the Super League. First few weeks it pulled great crowds, about 18 000 i think for the first few games. But eventually crowds died off and Paris Saint Germain are now defunct.

This is true - but PSG was doomed from the start - it's structure and location were just plain madness. Playing hundreds of kilometres from the heartland of the game in the South of France with a playing roster of Elite League players expected to play for the Super League club one day and return to their Elite League clubs in the South to then play another game... it was always going to end in tears.

Ten years later they brought in a side from the heartland of the game in the country and a successful club was born.

I guess the lesson is that you need the foundations to create something successful - or at least someone with deep pockets to keep the club afloat until it finds its place...